Assam govt issues instructions to ensure basic facilities in rehab centers

Pijush Hazarika, minister for Social Justice and Empowerment in Assam, has instructed private rehabilitation centre owners in Assam to ensure basic facilities such as hygienic living conditions and regular medical check-up for the inmates within three months. He has also proposed skill training for reformed inmates from such centres at government expense.

This came after Hazarika’s last week visit to a private rehabilitation centre in Guwahati where he was disappointed by the conditions he witnessed.

He held a meeting with owners of the centres in the city and relevant authorities on Saturday to discuss the problems plaguing these places.

The minister issued strict instructions to ensure minimum facilities for the inmates.

Hazarika said, “I understand that the facilities cannot be provided overnight. Hence, we are giving them time of three months. If they fail to ensure these facilities at the end of the time frame, those centres will have to be closed down.”